Her Forbidden Millionaire

Chapter 8

The evening was warm as its cool breeze blew through an open window in Phoebe’s living room. She sat on the couch, in her favorite robe, next to Lincoln as the television played softly in the background. The man next to her was one of the best mistakes she’d ever made, but only time would tell what repercussions she would face after deciding to see him intimately and professionally.

The two lovers sat on the couch as the evening news came on. Phoebe got excited as Pam’s face flashed onto the screen. “Turn it up! Turn it up! Thank you again for giving her the exclusive!”

“It was the least I could do. It was her idea that helped get me out of this mess anyway,” Lincoln replied as he turned the volume up from the remote.

They listened carefully as Pam began to speak. “Thank you, John. This evening, I want to speak to you all about an epidemic that’s running rampant in Tinseltown. Child stars! Who’s really watching them? A few days ago, I had the enormous pleasure of speaking with successful actor Lincoln Gold about the industry and its treatment of our underage talent. It was surprising to me that so many of these youthful faces we’ve grown so accustomed to seeing on our screens actually harbor a lot of pain, embarrassment, guilt, and resentment. There’s a world the public doesn’t know about but I got to witness it firsthand. James ‘Jimmy B.’ Banks was one of those guys that gives industry personnel a bad name. He schemed and plotted against many of our young stars, coercing many of them to perform debaucherous favors for him, pay him, or be exploited and ruined. Mr. Gold happened to be one of his many victims as Banks recorded the young actor having relations with his then girlfriend some years ago. Unfortunately, the actions of Banks pushed the young woman into a drug overdose and Mr. Gold nearly into bankruptcy. It’s such a shame that many of us can stand by and watch these things happen without recourse. Thankfully, we have people like Lincoln Gold, who are brave enough to tell their stories and get one less asshole, oops, sorry, didn’t mean to say that live, and get one less criminal off the street. Lincoln Gold, the industry and your peers thank you. If anyone would like to hear more, please tune in later this evening for my one-on-one interview with the actor along with others who fell victim to Jimmy B. Thank you, and back to you, John.”

“Oh, I can’t believe she did it! I mean, she cursed, but she shouldn’t get in too much trouble for that, right?” Phoebe exclaimed as she shut the TV off.

“She’ll probably get a warning since it was her first time and then any time after, she’ll get a fine.” Lincoln chuckled.

Phoebe stared at Lincoln with a glow in her eyes. “Thank you so much for that. Do you have any idea how many people you’re going to help?”

“You mean other than Pam?” He laughed.

“I’m serious.” Phoebe moved in closer to him. “There were probably parents letting their kids go around with whomever because the entertainment industry is supposed to be safe for children. They wouldn’t know that any of this was going on had it not been for you. You’re brave and so strong for putting your story out there like that.”

Lincoln smiled. “Yeah, and Pam telling it how she is helps a lot too. Even I’m starting to feel bad for me. I never wanted to think of myself as a victim. I always saw myself as better than that.”

“Well, that’s the stigma you’re helping to break. There are probably more people than you know suffering from the same state of mind. And remember this is still going on. I’m sure Jimmy B. wasn’t the only cretin out there doing this. I only hope that anyone who’s going through this has the courage to put themselves out to stop it. I’m so very proud of you,” she said, leaning in and kissing him tenderly on the lips.

Lincoln grinned. “Thank you. And thank you for saving my finances. I don’t know what I would have done if I had to go another year paying him off. Now, I have time and money to pour into my latest idea.”

Phoebe rolled her eyes. “Oh goodness, what’s that?”

“So you remember that first night we spent together?” he asked her.

“Yeah,” she answered reluctantly.

“Well, I thought it was great, but what about those couples who don’t have good fixtures like you? What about those couples who want to get it in, in the shower, but have nothing to hold onto? I’m not sure what I want to call it yet, but the portable shower rod can attach and detach to any surface between two walls. I haven’t figured out all of the specs yet, but I think it’s really good!” he exclaimed.